108 AN ANGLER'S LINES. 



reeled in an inch or so, which Esox no sooner 

 felt than off he dashed again with a force 

 which, alas ! proved too much for the line, 

 and for the next few minutes, there were two 

 very rueful countenances in that punt. While 

 he was repairing damages, loudly bewailing 

 his ill-luck all the time, I had been kept well 

 occupied with a couple of fish, and was about 

 to make a cast when I observed his rod bend- 

 ing again in active service; so I stood by, in 

 the hope of being called upon to lend a hand 

 with the gaff. 



There was little doubt but that he had 

 another good fish on, vicious plunges affording 

 ample testimony that its ultimate capture would 

 only be when the last inch had been success- 

 fully contested. A dash of the pike away 

 from the punt carried out yard after yard of 

 line, which had to be smartly reeled in again 

 as the pilot fioat gave warning that the fish 

 had doubled, and was now coming towards 

 us. Once he made direct for the chain 

 attached to the anchor, and I held my breath, 



